On’s Cloudboom Strike LS, the company’s first iteration of these weird sprayed-on shoes, quickly became my favorite pair of runners. They became my go-to shoes, and I put many miles on them, even running a couple of half marathons. (I did not break any records, but thank you for asking.)
I've been using the new version since it came out in February. The Cloudmonster soles feel great to run in, although they are noticeably less squishy than the Cloudboom versions. The benefits of that sprayed-on toebox are immediately noticeable. It makes the shoes much lighter (190 grams) than On’s other shoes. Also, a bioplastic membrane that adjusts to keep a snug but comfortable fit around your feet means there is no need to worry about laces coming undone while you run.
The stretchy sides can make for a weird fit at first. Regular shoes usually have a smidge of space in the toebox for your digits to move around a little. The LightSpray casing molds to your feet, so there's no escaping the grip on your toes. That takes a bit of getting used to. (You'll definitely want to wear socks.) While running, that grip stays stable, meaning the shoebox isn't rubbing against your feet as you go. After a little bit, it started to feel more like a natural extension of my feet.
The Cloudmonster soles are less bouncy than some of On's other soles, but they still put a noticeable spring in your step. These also have improved grip on the bottom, so they can handle wet pavement or the occasional spot of dirt or sand.
There may be some stability issues. I hit a curb wrong one time and could feel a lot more give in how far my foot moved than in a more traditional, stable shoebox. I didn't roll my ankle or anything, but made a mental note to be a little more careful running in these.
You can buy them now, but the supply is still somewhat limited, and not all sizes are available. On Running said it has scaled up its manufacturing efforts in South Korea for its LightSpray products specifically, and hopes to sell them without supply issues later this year.
They’re still going to cost you, though. The shoes are $280, a drop from the previous price of $330. It may also come down in the future as On ramps up production, so chances are you’ll be better off waiting.
If, like me, you find yourself stopping to readjust a shoe tongue or retie some laces far more often than you'd like, these weird bio-boots might be a good pick.
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